Catching up with Pueblo, Colorado punk vet Matt “Pickle” Hamilton

Dying Scene sat down with Matt Hamilton (aka Pickle) to debate his lengthy involvement within the punk rock scene. Matt has been enjoying drums for a few years and plenty of bands, together with Produkt, S.O.S., the Coffin Boys, the Worms, the Intercourse Pickles, Trash Idols, Blanket of M, and Slash Metropolis Daggers. He’s additionally been a roadie for Eleventh Hour and Complete Chaos and at present performs drums for Diskount Vodka and the Lifeless Finish.

DS: Why did you resolve to turn out to be a drummer? 

P: As a result of I skateboarded from the summer time of fifth grade all the way in which ‘til the start of tenth grade and I tousled my knee and I wanted to do one thing so I didn’t lose my thoughts. So, I began enjoying drums and all my pals have been musicians. So, I received a good friend of mine named Kevin Fender (Eleventh Hour, Employer Worker, AUNTIE) to point out me slightly tempo and I constructed off of that. Right here I’m, to this present day, it’s the one lesson than I ever had. I additionally performed with tons of individuals via my lifetime however lastly simply received my life again collectively. So, now I’m truly making a dent in society, I feel slightly bit. So, that’s good.  

DS: So, what different bands have been you in? 

P: Let’s see, approach again within the day, I used to be in a band referred to as The Coffin Boys. I used to be in band referred to as Blanket of M, the Worms, and I used to be in an actual large band in Arizona referred to as The Slash Metropolis Daggers. We went worldwide with that. It was like a trashy, glammy, punk rock and roll band. It was enjoyable. You possibly can discover that stuff on-line. I sat in and performed drums with Jeff Dahl and Freddy Lynxx at a dwell present again within the mid or late 90s again in Arizona. That was fairly badass.

DS: You’re at present in Diskount Vodka and the Lifeless Finish. How would you describe your bands? And, how do you handle your time in each bands? 

P: Diskount Vodka is simply straight up old skool punk rock. A few of it sort of appears like road punk, slightly Oi-ish, sort of poppy…just a bit bit everywhere. Now we have a cut up seven inch with Television Tragedy popping out on January thirteenth on Cut up Character Information out of Las Vegas. That’s a enjoyable one and Diskount retains releasing singles. February, we’ll launch an album. Then so far as the Lifeless Finish goes, we’re a psychobilly band with punk rock influences. I’m a punk rock drummer however I play slightly little bit of rock and roll in that band, too. So, slightly bit everywhere additionally as properly. Hopefully we’ve some new music popping out quickly, too. 

DS: Cool. So, what are you as much as proper now? 

P: Simply on the point of launch extra materials with each bands, however Diskount Vodka for certain. Now we have new materials coming. So, we even have a video that got here out on December 1st, slightly dwell video with a track that we’re about to launch. 

DS: So, along with your two bands, have you ever achieved what you sought out to do as a drummer? 

P: I’ve made objectives and hit these objectives however now I’ve new objectives. So, I’m simply going to maintain transferring up the ladder. By no means cease. It takes eternally to get wherever being a musician, for some motive, however it’s price it. 

DS: Who’re your largest affect and inspirations? Inform me about your patches in your jacket. 

P: So far as my largest influences, after all the Ramones influenced me enjoying drums at a youthful age. However right here lately, Scott Churilla (Reverend Horton Warmth, Supersuckers) who performed with Three Dangerous Jacks, that dude was tremendous inspiring to observe. So, I’d say that gave me slightly little bit of inspiration in my life to beef up my drums some. I like listening to a bunch of Oi bands. They’re fairly inspiring. Rancid at all times conjures up me. I like every kind of types of music, so I hearken to psychobilly music, too. I like The Meteors, The Peabrains, The Quaranteds, and Rezurex. There’s a bunch of fine bands like that. I like every part from the New York Dolls to Johnny Thunders, every kind of stuff. 

DS: So, you’ve been performing regionally and touring regionally for years now. What’s the largest present you’ve performed? And, what’s the greatest present you’ve performed? Inform me about essentially the most memorable present you’ve performed. 

P: The largest present I’ve performed is Sizzling Rod Rock & Rumble as a result of there have been lots of of individuals in entrance of us after which hundreds of individuals in the entire place that heard us. So, it was fairly wild. So far as memorable reveals, I may go all the way in which again to after I lived in Arizona and performed reveals with David Gardner with the Trash Idols and people reveals have been very memorable. Taking part in with Jeff Dahl was one thing that was tremendous loopy in my lifetime. Raymond Burton Estes (…And We All Die) advised me to purchase a Jeff Dahl tape at Camelot Music within the mall for a buck. So, I did and I fell in love with it. Years later, I received to play drums with him on stage and performed his songs. I used to be tremendous amazed. However he’s additionally recorded stuff for the Trash Idols and recorded stuff for Slash Metropolis Daggers additionally via the years for me. In order that was fairly cool. I nonetheless communicate with the man. He’s superior. So, a lot inspiration comes from him, too. 

DS: So, what would you say your proudest moments are? 

P: My complete profession. I prefer it all. It’s by no means been a boring second, that’s for certain. Taking part in with the Fats Skins. They’re a extremely good Oi band and people guys are actually good guys. So, I’ve performed with plenty of good bands. 

DS: What recommendation do you’ve for younger musicians who need to begin a band? 

P: You don’t need to play music. Don’t ever play an instrument! No, I’m simply kidding. I don’t know…simply study that instrument and really feel it. In the event you don’t really feel it, undoubtedly don’t play it. Simply preserve transferring ahead. You’ve received to place within the work. You may’t simply sit there and anticipate anyone to come back give it to you. You’ve received to go do it. 

DS: So, what’s subsequent for you? What are a number of the objectives you’ve for 2024? 

P: Simply put out as a lot music as I presumably can and possibly tour some and who is aware of, shoot some movies for each bands. So, simply do as a lot as I presumably can. I solely dwell as soon as. 

DS: What bands are you listening to this week? 

P: Rancid, Descendents, Conservative Navy Picture, and slightly little bit of the Hellbound Hitmen, too.

DS: So, do you’ve anything you needed say to Dying Scene’s readers? 

P: Try all of the bands. Try Dying Scene and simply preserve this going. Hold an eye fixed out for the most recent releases. Thanks for doing this for us. 

DS: Thanks. Thanks for taking the time to take a seat with us.